AUBURN, Alabama -- In the aftermath of Auburn's win over Washington State, defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson and defensive line coach Rodney Garner found themselves frustrated with the Tigers' pass rush.

Auburn produced just two sacks in 67 dropbacks, a disappointing number against a team that allowed 57 sacks in 2012.

Film study told a different story.

"During the course of the game, we felt frustrated about the amount of pressure we were getting on the quarterback," defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson said. "But as we looked at the film, he was throwing the ball very quickly at times. We were a step or two away."

A schematic decision early in the game also prevented the Tigers from getting much heat on the quarterback. At times, Auburn's defensive ends were often asked to peel off and cover running backs slipping out of the backfield, a wrinkle that took away from the pressure.

As the game progressed, Auburn's pressure, a combination of better push up the middle and a variety of zone blitzes called by Johnson, started to force Halliday into poor decisions and early throws, contributing to his 11-of-29 second half.

But the Tigers' pass rushers want more big plays against Arkansas State.

"It's very annoying, especially as a D-lineman, because you're putting in so much work and it's like, you come off (the ball), and the next thing you know, it's already downfield," junior LaDarius Owens said. "We're just like, 'When are I going to get that shot to actually pass-rush?"

Owens and his bookends might get their chance this Saturday.

Arkansas State attempted only 13 passes against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in its opener, but expecting the Red Wolves to lean that much on the running game again would be foolhardy.

In head coach Bryan Harsin's past as an offensive coordinator, balance has always played a key role, and the Red Wolves are breaking in a new quarterback in former Utah State transfer Adam Kennedy, who is taking over for Ryan Aplin, arguably the best passer in school history.

Auburn's defensive line, particularly the defensive ends, have to get to Kennedy early and often.

"We affected the quarterback quite a bit, but did we get as many sacks as we wanted, no," senior defensive end Nosa Eguae said. "We’re going to have the opportunity to get sacks this week. We have to get them."

The pressure shifts to the outside this week. Auburn's interior line, led by freshman Montravius Adams and fellow newcomer Ben Bradley, produced both sacks and increasing pressure as the game progressed.

Now it's up to Auburn's rotation of defensive ends, a spot that sorely missed Dee Ford's speed last week. With Ford likely out again, it falls to Owens, Eguae, Craig Sanders and freshman Carl Lawson -- fellow freshman Elijah Daniel struggled in the opener -- to make Kennedy's life miserable.

Arkansas State's left tackle, Aaron Williams, is a 6-foot-7, 320-pound senior with plenty of experience. On the right side, the Red Wolves are starting 6-foot-4, 276-pound redshirt freshman Colton Jackson.

Auburn will try to beat both tackles with a constant rotation of defensive ends on the outside.

"You have to have a lot of pass rushers rotate, because pass rush is a very tiring thing and it takes a lot out of you," Owens said. "It's very good to be fresh from the first quarter to the fourth."

No matter who's in the game, Auburn wants to do a better job of putting heat on the quarterback in Week 2.

Take care of that, and the sacks will come.

"It was frustrating with the kind of offense they had," Owens said. "I don't have to see any more offenses like that any time soon, so I can get me some sacks."